A tribute to a true patriot
Abdishakur passed away on May 13, 2012 in a car accident at Tulli village, between Dila and Borama in Western Somaliland. Alla how naxariisto. Amina Abdi Jama, his wife, was with him in the car but her injury is not serious. Alla ha u sahlo. Aamiin.

A year ago Abdishakur wrote: “Somalilanders are in a reflective mood as they prepare for the 20th Anniversary of the birth of their nation. These days there is a sense of contemplation, thoughtfulness and revaluation in Somaliland circles.” He could have been describing his own style of mature reflection and incisive analysis of contemporary issues in Somaliland and Somalia. He was a true patriot, a man of great human quality, a statesman and deep connoisseur of his own people, whom he believed in and wanted to contribute to their well-being.

A brief history of the “Somali Union”: what is the way forward
The central concern of this article is that the Union of Somalia was founded on the false dream of Greater-Somalism based on language, race, culture and religion criteria. It argues that the Somali Union simply existed, not because of intrinsic values of its nationhood, but because of its ‘Cold War Client’ status. The article raises serious questions about whether there was a nation-state in Somalia in the first place, and considers how the unswerving search for Greater-Somalism masked Somalia’s vulnerability as a nation-state.

The Changing Political Landscape in the Horn of AfricaIt appears that the international community is now beginning to realise, in the best interest of world security, the political developments in the Horn of Africa should be accepted on their merits. That means that if in the past the international community has fallen for the de jure status of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), it is now paying attention to the de facto developments in the region and with restoring Somali unity dream becoming virtually unobtainable, the international community is recognising Somaliland for its achievement in the areas of democracy, peace and stability.

A timely production and helpful resource for all those who are following the upcoming elections in Somaliland. Ibrahim Hashi Jama, former Chair of Somaliland Forum's Committee on Constitution, and the Editor of somalilandlaw.com, shares with us a great handbook.

This handbook covers the laws and codes developed from 1993 to 2008 which were necessary for the electoral process. The introductory chapters of the handbook explore the development of all these main legal instruments, including the basic laws (The National Charter of 1992 followed by the Constitution) that set up the governmental structures and the institutions which should be elected.

REDSEA-ONLINE e-books is grateful to the author for his permission to post the book here for its readers.

In the earlier years of colonization, African native languages and cultures
were seen as inferior and incomprehensible and did not even deserve
scientific examinations. Nations themselves were often seen as narrations. The
power and the authority to narrate or to block other narratives from
emerging were, according to Edward Said, an important aspect of the
culture of the imperialism.

African nations and states don’t want to be seen any more as
“inventions.” They have already become members of the international
community and though as yet not economically prosperous they don’t
feel culturally inferior to the older nations.
Literature and arts particularly oral literature has played a significant role
in the understanding of the state complexity and the political ideas
associated with it.

This presentation highlights how literature was utilized for resistance
against:
· colonial powers
· Post-colonial state corruptions, manipulations and particularly the
oppression of the military regime and its abuse of human rights in
the Somali context and how the militry regime used also to
discredit the opposition.
· and finally the lamentation of the loss of the state and the
restoration of somaliland as a separate state.

Taxanaha Dhaxalreeb comprises a series of publications that appear on redseaonline.
com at several, unspecified times during the year. It is edited by Jama Musse
Jama and published by Ponte Invisibile Ed. which are based in Pisa, Italy.